China's defence ministry on Friday dismissed Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military drills as a "wasteful charade" that, "stoked war panic", in the Chinese Government's first official comment on the 10 days of war games since they began last week.
Taiwan, a democratically governed island that rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, began the exercise last week, as China ramps up its military presence around the island. The exercises rehearsed various scenarios should China ever make good on threats to try to seize the island by force, including how to break a maritime blockade and, for the first time, slowing mobile internet.
"The so-called 'Han Kuang exercise' has always been a posturing, wasteful charade," Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Chen Xi said in a statement.
"The Democratic Progressive Party authorities have also recklessly stoked war panic, accelerating efforts to turn cities into battlefields and push ordinary people to the front lines," he added, referring to Taiwan's ruling party.
The People's Liberation Army remains on high alert and is fully prepared, continuously enhancing its real-combat capabilities to, "counter separatism and external interference", Chen said.
"This remains the solid trump card for safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."
Writing on social media, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said while the drills has come to a close, government efforts to strengthen defence and enhance the resilience of society as a whole will not cease.
"The government, together with the national military and all citizens, will make every necessary preparation to safeguard our democratic and free way of life through our strength, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he added.
While China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, it says it would prefer "peaceful reunification". Taiwan's government says only the island's people can decide their future, and regularly criticises China's pressure campaign.
The Chinese military operates almost daily in the skies and waters around Taiwan.
(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Ben Blanchard and Lincoln Feast)